Connecteam vs Nowsta (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Connecteam if

• Fits if you have 10 staff or fewer and want to pay nothing
• Works for cleaning or field crews who clock in by GPS from different sites

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you also want chat and HR, since each hub is its own plan from $29 a month
• Tight if you stay free and run payroll, as the free plans have no payroll link and the 30-user Limited plan drops many features
• Skip it if you might want a refund: monthly plans get none, and yearly plans only within the first 30 days
• Watch out: past 30 users, each person is charged on every hub, $4.20 a month on Operations Expert billed yearly
• Watch out: repeating shifts and templates need Advanced at $49, and auto-assigned shifts and the API need Expert at $99

Pick Nowsta if

• Fits if you staff events or hourly shifts and want workers to pick up shifts on their phones
• Works for an agency that wants scheduling and payroll links together

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a price list, as none is published
• Watch out: the site does not say which of sourcing, payroll and vendor management come with which package
• Too light for a manager who wants a manager app, as the listing found is the workers' app
• Not for you if you want to try it first, as the route in is a demo

Connecteam

• Each hub is bought separately: scheduling and time clock sit in the Operations Hub, while chat and HR tools need their own hub plans from $29 a month each.
• The flat price covers the first 30 users; every user after that is charged per month on each hub, for example $4.20 on Operations Expert billed yearly.
• The free Small Business plan has no payroll integration, and the free Limited plan for up to 30 users drops many features.
• Monthly plans are not refunded for prepaid time; annual plans get a prorated refund only if cancelled within the first 30 days.

Nowsta

• No prices are published; the site sends visitors to schedule a demo and the pricing address redirects to the home page.
• The site does not say which features (sourcing, payroll, vendor management) come with which package.
• The app listing found is named Nowsta Workers, aimed at the workers rather than managers.

Connecteam

GPS, NFC and kiosk clock-ins

Staff clock in from their phones with a GPS stamp, by tapping an NFC tag, or at a shared tablet kiosk. Geofences and on-the-clock location tracking come on higher plans.

Scheduling with open shifts

Shifts repeat daily, weekly or monthly, open shifts can be claimed with approval, and reminders go out before work starts. AI auto-scheduling weighs availability, roles and labor rules.

Timesheets to payroll

Clock-ins build timesheets that export to payroll services including Gusto, QuickBooks, Xero, Paychex and ADP, with pay periods and pay rates per person.

Forms, checklists and shift tasks

Unlimited checklists, forms and tasks on every paid plan, plus tasks and attachments such as photos, mileage and signatures tied to a shift.

Chat, updates and knowledge base

The Communications Hub adds one-to-one and group chat, a company feed with surveys and polls, an employee directory and a knowledge base.

Time off, training and documents

The HR & Skills Hub covers time-off policies with balances, courses and quizzes, documents with e-signatures, hiring and onboarding.

Nowsta

Shift scheduling

A drag-and-drop builder with reusable templates, AI-powered recommendations to fill open shifts, demand forecasting, and shift swaps and claims.

Time and attendance

Time tracking with geofencing, alerts for clock-in and clock-out, and timesheet approvals.

Payroll integration

Connects to existing payroll and accounting systems to calculate wages, with built-in compliance tools.

Sourcing and onboarding

Supports recruiting and onboarding for hourly, full-time, part-time and contingent workers, including talent ratings.

Worker mobile app

Workers get an all-in-one mobile app with real-time updates and self-service; the app is listed on the App Store and Google Play.

Vendor management

The site lists Vendor Management beside Workforce Management as a separate product area for managing outside staffing vendors.

Connecteam

• Small Business$0

  Free for life for up to 10 users, covering all three hubs. Payroll integration is not included.

• Operations Basic$29

  per month for up to 30 users, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)

  GPS time clock, basic scheduling with open shifts, unlimited forms and tasks, payroll integration. Each user past 30 is $0.80 a month ($1 monthly).

• Operations Advanced$49

  per month for up to 30 users, billed annually ($59 billed monthly)

  Adds repeating shifts, templates, auto clock-out, up to 10 geofence sites and up to 6 schedules. Each user past 30 is $2.50 a month ($3 monthly).

• Operations Expert$99

  per month for up to 30 users, billed annually ($119 billed monthly)

  Adds auto-assigned shifts, unlimited geofences, up to 12 schedules, automatic reports and API access. Each user past 30 is $4.20 a month ($5 monthly).

• Operations EnterpriseCustom

  Unlimited time clocks and schedules, SSO, two-factor sign-in and a success manager. Aimed at companies with 201 to 10,000 employees.

Nowsta

Pricing could not be confirmed. See nowsta.com.

Connecteam

• Annual discount

  Save 18% with yearly billing

  Yearly billing brings Operations Basic, Advanced and Expert to $29, $49 and $99 a month against $35, $59 and $119 monthly; the FAQ calls it two months free.

Nowsta

No public discounts listed.